This project aims to operationalize innovative methods for developing cost effective wetland inventories across Alberta by use of numerous sources of remote sensing data, namely light detection and ranging (LiDAR), synthetic aperture Radar (SAR), and optical imagery.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) release to stormwater through wear of asphalt and tire as well as deposition of vehicle exhaust – are of great concern due to its acute toxic, carcinogenic and estrogenic effects on aquatic organisms. Stormwater contaminated with these organic pollutants pose a threat to receiving waters. Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL) is a leader in proving progressive solutions for stormwater management in BC, is seeking to improve the rain garden system to effectively capture these organic pollutants in the runoff.

Understanding and measuring nitrogen supply in agricultural soils is a critical component in managing groundwater quality and minimizing impacts on the environment. Degraded water quality, primarily as nitrate contamination, is a growing concern in Atlantic Canada and agricultural fields are potential point sources. This project proposes to develop a baseline dataset from agricultural fields across Nova Scotia toward developing a soil nitrogen supply index that will help producers make better crop fertilization decisions.

Within a watershed, data are collected on various aspects of water (amount, withdrawals, returns, contaminant concentrations) by multiple groups, yet rarely shared at the basin scale. To reduce data “siloing” and make collected data available to multiple users interested in water management within a watershed context, data from multiple sources must be combined.

Many engineering projects are undertaken on and around rivers, such as the construction of bridges and the placement of pipes under river beds. These engineering projects modify flow conditions away from those which occur naturally, inducing additional sedimentation and scour. This research will focus on a deep scour hole in the riverbed at the Alex Fraser bridge on the Fraser River in British Columbia. In this location a great deal of engineering work has been undertaken, leading to the development of the deep scour.

Humpback whales show remarkable recovery after the impacts of commercial whaling, and their consumption of essential food resources could affect local herring and salmon populations. Little is known about the feeding ecology of humpback whales in BC waters, despite their increasing importance to fisheries and tourism. Both humpback whales and fish are vulnerable to prey depletion, and the public have a vested interest in the future of humpbacks and fisheries in BC.

Reservoir operators typically determine flow releases by assessing the available storage and demand and then applying a rule?of?thumb. Thus, in spite of numerous previous and current computer modelling studies, the use of computer models in real?time reservoir operation on a district level is virtually nonexistent. The resulting “water savings” offer the opportunity to increase river flows, making greater volumes of water available to irrigated agriculture to reduce drought risks, or support irrigation sector expansion that meets all water licenses and in?stream water?quality objectives.

Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, is not only a globally unique scientific resource for studying the rise of animal-life, but also a growing tourist destination. As the locality looks towards obtaining World Heritage status, it is essential that steps are taken to ensure that any development of the tourist industry does not adversely affect the long term conservation of the fossils. This project, using modern 3D modelling and experimental techniques will examine the historic effects of visitors to the rock outcrops, as well as test strategies for reducing footwear based abrasion of the specimens.

Safe drinking water supply is a daily need but it can be seriously threatened by microbial hazards originating from fecal contamination of source water, especially following periods of intense rainfall. In order to assess drinking water intakes (DWIs) vulnerability to fecal pollution and to take cost-effective decisions in case of hazardous events, it is urgent to implement early-warning systems. A recent enzyme-based technology, ColiMinder® enables to measure E. coli in water at high temporal resolution (every 15-30 minutes).

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the western basin of Lake Erie are detrimental to the ecosystem, reducing water quality and affecting drinking water for people in the region. Severe HABs in Lake Erie in the 1960s and 1970s resulted in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972. Since then, water quality has greatly improved; however in the 1990s, Lake Erie saw the blooms return. This has been attributed to factors such as zebra mussels’ bio-transforming nutrients, climate change, shifts in the form of phosphorus and lake sediment as an internal loading source.